Laundry, Anchor, Tasks

This is late morning and I am working from the laundry room where I have close proximity to the internet wireless tower (300m max range) and electric power for my laptop. Behind me are two ladies chatting about cruising and Oops, a third one has just shown up with her washing.

The photo is of the 50 lb Swarbrick anchor as it rode with no problem through the at-times rough passage through the Tasman Sea. On departing Eden the 7-day forecast looked like a fairy-tale gentleness and of course it was a fairy tale. On that basis I decided to spare the trouble and risk of dismantling and stowing the anchor so that in NZ it would be ready for a quick drop in rough seas. Had I known the reality of the two gales ahead of us I would not been game to leave the anchor up. So in this case the fairy tale had some benefits because now I know that the anchor will ride OK on the roller in rough weather.

The following is our task list for New Zealand:

Task No. TASK Start Date Completed Date
1 Replace masthead wind instruments 10/08/08
2 Fix compass light 11/08/08 12/08/08
3 Solve battery problems 09/08/08
4 Repair engine-starting switch 09/08/08
5 Replace battery tester ammeter 09/08/08
6 Repair Anchor Winch 09/08/08
7 Engine service 09/08/08
8 Replacement alternator belt 09/08/08
9 Repair wind charger 11/08/08
10 Replace/Repair Fwd Hatches 11/08/08
11 Repair loose railing 10/08/08
12 Replace roller furler line 11/08/08 12/08/08
13 Cockpit jack lines
14 New mainsail sheet 11/08/08 12/08/08
15 Replace life jacket cartridge, get spares 10/08/08
16 Repair starboard bow fair lead
17 LED globes for cabin lights 09/08/08
18 Repair Rutland Wind Charger 11/08/08
19 New barge boards
20 More snaps for main dodger
21 Repair starboard rail dodger
22 Lee cloth for Arnold's bunk
23 Hang V-Berth curtain
24 Investigate anchor well for leaks
25 Soap dispenser shock cloth in head
26 Install Cabin Fan
27 GPS antenna for Arnold's laptop
28 Install JVComm32 software on Arnold's laptop 08/08/08 13/08/08
29 Purchase 406 Mhz EPIRB 11/08/08
30 Replace Traveler Lines 12/08/08 13/08/08

The venerable B&G anemometer started to malfunction after the recent gales so we're putting up a Raymarine ST60 system that will integrate with the chart plotter.

Items 3 to 8 are part of a major revamping of the boat's electrical system. The consultant (40 years in the marine electronics business) has recommended changes such as:

- Increasing our battery capacity from 260 A/H to 1000 A/H
- Going to gel batteries instead of the current lead-acid
- Replace the alternator servicing the house batteries with a much larger one
- Install a hard-wired 60-amp charger that can take any voltage (e.g. 240, 110)
- Better power management system that will tell us current going in, out, net current, and percentage of battery capacity left

One of the house batteries was faulty, explaining why we were not able to get full charge from our engine runs. Also, one belt driving both alternators was not advisable because it causes slippage and wear of the belt. Worse, the pulleys on the engine did not match the pulleys on the alternators so that it was impossible to fit a belt that fit correctly. With the present system we were condemned to frequent belt failures. Proper pulleys will be installed so that each alternator has its own belt.

The anchor winch gear box is a write-off. We are looking to replacing it with a larger one, probably a Maxwell.

We have a new Maxwell hatch to replace the venerable and leaky front hatch. The cutout size is 7 mm larger on both axis so Arnold and I will have some filing or jig sawing to do.

Many of the things with "start" but no "finish" dates represents things that are on order, such as the 406 MHz EPIRB and the LED globes for the cabin lights. The Rutland wind charger is being shipped off for repairs, hopefully under warranty. Paul the rigger will visit tomorrow about fitting the masthead unit and replacing our rails. Item 15 arouse out of my life jacket inflating while I was raising the mainsail two days out of NZ. We are replacing that cartridge and keeping three spares on board. (And learned to keep the life jacket rip cord tucked away.)